As one of the few Shakespeare plays to be banned in modern times and a large scale epic, “Coriolanus” is, at first glance, a questionable choice of play for the intimate, 250 capacity Donmar Warehouse.

Yet this production embraces these contradictions, using them to manipulate its audience and turn a controversial play into a big hit.

1950s Britain. The rock ‘n’ roll craze has begun trickling its way over the pond, infecting a generation teens, bored of their lives in a country still reeling from the Second World War. In London’s most infamous district, teddy boys and thugs found enterprises off the back of home-grown rock ‘n’ roll talent, desperate to get their slice of the piece.